News

Two years after his character Glenn Rhee died on “The Walking Dead,” Steven Yeun still talks to his former co-stars. But he’s not always up to speed on the show. “I don’t watch it as much,” he said in an interview in New York, where he was promoting his role in Korean director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” at the New York Film Festival. “I’m still really close with all the co-stars, so I get the down-low on what’s going on.”

Nevertheless, he’s put the whirlwind experience of the AMC hit behind him, and said that fewer people stop him on the street to discuss it these days. Having appeared in two acclaimed festival films this year — the Cannes-winning “Burning” and Boots Riley’s Sundance sensation “Sorry to Bother You” — he said he had gone from acceptance to appreciation for the opportunity to leave “Walking Dead” for good.

The 59Th BFI London Film Festival Announces Full 2015 Programme

You can peruse the programme at your leisure here.

The programme for the 59th BFI London Film Festival in partnership launched today, with Festival Director Clare Stewart presenting this year’s rich and diverse selection of films and events. BFI London Film Festival is Britain’s leading film event and one of the world’s oldest film festivals. It introduces the finest new British and international films to an expanding London and UK-wide audience. The Festival provides an essential platform for films seeking global success; and promotes the careers of British and international filmmakers through its industry and awards programmes. With this year’s industry programme stronger than ever, offering international filmmakers and leaders a programme of insightful events covering every area of the film industry‎ Lff positions London as the world’s leading creative city.

The Festival will screen a...

Since long before films like “Transformers,” “Battleship,” “GI Joe,” and “The Lego Movie” were all the rage- adapting children’s toys and games for the big screen- Hollywood has been trying to make a Stretch Armstrong movie. In fact, the project has been in some form of development for over 20 years.

At various points throughout its path to getting made, the project evolved. It’s gone from a family-friendly Disney comedy, to an action “spy” flick, to a teen film, and even a superhero movie. The title role was to be filled by Danny DeVito, then Jackie Chan, and most recently by Taylor Lautner.

The latest incarnation was set to finally hit theaters in April of 2014, and I’m sure all of you were frothing at the mouth to finally see Armstrong’s majestic arrival to the silver screen. Problem is, the film has quietly disappeared from Relativity Media’s...

Remember way back when Taylor Lautner was attached to be the star of the upcoming “Stretch Armstrong” film? Remember how everyone was trying to figure out how a “Stretch Armstrong” film was going to work? I know I was trying to figure out how a “Stretch Armstrong” film was going to be a hit. Nobody really asked for it. Well, apparently, those of us concerned about yet another film based on a toy have been vindicated! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Relativity Media and their partner, Hasbro, have decided to shelve the “Stretch Armstrong” film. However, don’t think that there won’t be some other toy ventures that could come down [ Read More ]

The post Stretch Armstrong Movie Shelved, Relativity and Hasbro Still Boast Working Relationship appeared first on Shockya.com.

Briefly: Last summer, Relativity Media announced The Crazies director Breck Eisner was negotiating to direct Stretch Armstrong, a film based on the toy which first appeared in 1976. The project has been developing at Relativity after the property fell away from Universal, which once attached Taylor Lautner to lead it. However, it sounds like Relativity couldn't make it work either as they announced (via Collider) that they were killing the project. “Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at. Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship, and we decided to focus on other projects." It's probably for the best anyway.

This Week:

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly to reunite on Devil’s Night; DreamWorks plans to reinvent He-Man, Voltron, and Rocky and Bullwinkle; Emma Watson will reteam with her The Perks of Being a Wallflower director; Disney’s Maleficent will undergo rewrites and reshoots; and Relativity Media has dropped Stretch Armstrong.

-

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are in early negotiations to reteam for Devil’s Night, a new comedy centered on the malicious “holiday.”

For those that might not know, Devil’s Night takes place on October 30th, and is when teenagers wreak all sorts of havoc on their neighborhood. This feature film will follow two estranged friends, Leonard and Gabe, who bonded and were subsequently torn ...

Click to continue reading Movie News Wrap Up: ‘Maleficent’ Reshoots, Reinventing ‘Voltron’ & More

The post Movie News Wrap Up: ‘Maleficent’ Reshoots, Reinventing ‘Voltron’ & More appeared first on Screen Rant.

The era of toys becoming movies may finally be coming to its end. Yes, we still have Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises out there, but studios finally seem to be getting the message that you really can't just transform any toy into a hit. Relativity Media and Hasbro have given up and put their Stretch Armstrong movie on ice, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In a statement the two companies boast of their "tremendous relationship" and their plans of "continuing to work together," and even promise that Stretch Armstrong is "an incredible character who will make an amazing movie." But for an adaptation that's been in the works for many years with no actual progress, this sure looks like a final nail in the coffin. Though Battleship will probably always be the ultimate example of what happens when toy executives and studio heads get way too high on themselves,...

News Simon Brew 14 Oct 2013 - 06:44

It looks like the planned Stretch Armstrong movie is dead, as Relativity Media becomes the latest to pull out of the project...

If all had gone to plan, on April 11th 2014, a movie of the Hasbro toy Stretch Armstrong would have arrived in Us cinemas, with Taylor Lautner at one stage starring and Breck Eisner directing. The film had been formally announced, but then it all looked rather shaky when the project never went before the cameras. That April release date looked unlikely. Turns out, it's more than that: Relativity Media has pulled out of the project, and the film now looks to have been abandoned, at least in its current guise.

A statement from Relativity did say that "Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at...

Poor old Stretch Armstrong. He’s been through the development ringer for years now, bouncing from studio to studio and picked up (then dumped) by filmmaker after filmmaker. Now another company has decided he’s not their favourite toy, with Relativity Media backing away from making the movie.Stretch, as you may be aware, is the action figure toy with the rubbery limbs and torso that can be stretched out and always retain his shape. First launched in the 1970s, it was successfully re-introduced to sadistic, limit testing kids in the 1990s and continues to be a presence today. In its time wandering through limbo, Breck Eisner has considered making a movie based on it, and for a while there, Stretch was to be portrayed on screen by Taylor Lautner, a period where the jokes pretty much wrote themselves.Yet nothing came to pass and Relativity picked the property up...

Recently there’s been word of a Monopoly movie, a Choose Your Own Adventure movie, and a movie for basically every well-established toy or game ever invented. One of those similar projects was a film about a gel-filled Hasbro action figure called Stretch Armstrong. Unfortunately for all the Stretch fans out there, Relativity Media have announced that they are abandoning the project.

Taylor Lautner was originally supposed to star as Stretch, and the film was once set to be based off a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller. It was first going to be made through Universal, but in 2010 they dropped the project and it was picked up by Relativity. Relativity tossed in Lautner, brought in Dean Georgaris to rewrite the script, and hired Breck Eisner to direct. Production was supposed to start May 15, 2013 in Montreal, with a release date of April 11, 2014 in mind. Now Relativity and Hasbro have announced they’re...

It's been about six years, since we first heard that a movie based on Hasbro's "Stretch Armstrong" toy was in the works. Eventually Steve Oedekerk (Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty) was hired to write a screenplay, Taylor Lautner (Twilight) was attached to star, and a release date of April 15th, 2011 was set. Since then, Ron Howard signed on to direct, but then dropped out. Immediately after, he was replaced with "The Crazies" helmer Breck Eisner and the release date was pushed to April 11th, 2014. And now comes that the project has completely fallen apart. "Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at," said Relativity Media. "Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship, and we decided to focus on other projects. We look forward to continuing to work together." Stretch Armstrong was introduced as a...

In 2012, Relativity optimistically announced an April 2014 release date for Stretch Armstrong even though Taylor Lautner dropped out of the project. A few months later, Breck Eisner was hired to direct the toy feature. That's the last we heard about the project for some time. Relativity realizes they have stretched the Hasbro property beyond its limits—spilling the corn syrup gel inside all over development hell—and announced the are pulling the plug on Stretch Armstrong. Here's Relativity's statement: "Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at. Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship, and we decided to focus on other projects. We look forward to continuing to work together." Perhaps some other ambitious studio will take on Stretch and fund a clever filmmaker with a 21 Jump Street-style approach to the material. But in the current state,...

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Relativity and Hasbro have removed Stretch Armstrong from their upcoming release schedule. The film never actually went into production, although you would be forgiven for forgetting that it was supposed to be released as soon as next April. "Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at," Relativity said in a statement today. "Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship, and we decided to focus on other projects. We look forward to continuing to work together." There's been interest in a movie featuring the toy character since the 1990s, but it was only over the past few years that it started to gain traction. Taylor Lautner was attached to star, and Relativity originally picked the movie up when Universal dropped out in January 2012. Are you guys disappointed by...

The long troubled Stretch Armstrong movie has hit another speed bump, as Relativity Media abandons the project based on the popular Hasbro toy.

Stretch Armstrong was to have opened April 11, 2014. But the production never managed to get off the ground, with the toy continuing to leak its signature jelly all over Hollywood in its long-gestating road to the big screen.

Relativity Media released this statement.

"Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at. Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship, and we decided to focus on other projects. We look forward to continuing to work together."

Hasbro will continue to try to develop the toy into a feature, as it looks for another possible distributor. Released in 1976 on toy store shelves everywhere, the action figure was known for its ability to be pulled...

Relativity Media has dropped out of development of the film based on Hasbro's "Stretch Armstrong" toy.

The toy, a 13-inch, blond-haired muscled figure whose limbs could be stretched to nearly four feet, was launched by Kenner in the '70s.

Disney had a go at a film adaptation starring Jackie Chan in 1998, but it never got it past the development stage. Universal was subjected to the same problem with their Taylor Lautner-led version in 2008.

Relativity picked up the rights after Universal dumped them, with Breck Eisner ("Sahara," "The Crazies") in negotiations to direct as of last Summer.

Now, Relativity is skipping this toy but claims they have a "tremendous relationship" with Hasbro and have "decided to focus on other projects. We look forward to continuing to work together."

Source: THR...

The long-gestating Stretch Armstrong film project has hit another major roadblock, with Relativity Media ending its involvement. Relativity and partner Hasbro quietly have taken Stretch Armstrong off the release calendar. Based on the classic Hasbro toy, the movie was to have opened April 11, although it never went into production. Story: An Oral History of the Never Made 'Stretch Armstrong' Movie "Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at," Relativity said in a statement. "Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship,

read more...

Relativity Media has pulled the plug on Stretch Armstrong, reports The Hollywood Reporter. This was supposed to have opened in theaters on April, but never went into production, and probably for the better. Stretch Armstrong is a classic Hasbro Toy introduced back in 1976 with the character being stretchable, and could be twisted and folded, but always went back to his original form. Universal originally signed on to make Stretch Armstrong in 2008 with Twilight Saga star Taylor Lautner on board as the hero.

Almost two years ago, Relativity Media and Hasbro revealed that they were making a Stretch Armstrong movie, but today they have announced that project is no longer happening. The movie was scheduled to hit theaters on April 11, 2014, but it never went into production. "Stretch Armstrong is an incredible character who will make an amazing movie, and we know that Hasbro has some new ideas they are looking at," Relativity said in a statement via The Hollywood Reporter . "Relativity and Hasbro have a tremendous relationship, and we decided to focus on other projects. We look forward to continuing to work together." Stretch Armstrong is the classic action hero figure first launched by Hasbro in 1976 and re-launched in the '90s, sold successfully throughout North...

Hollywood is littered with projects that have been in development for years and even decades, passing from one producer to another, from one studio to the next, from one writer to even more scribes, like an orphan no one wants to care for. And one of those projects is "Stretch Armstrong." In the history of this blog alone, Nicholas Stoller was once hired to pen the screenplay, with Rob Letterman ("Monsters Vs. Aliens") attached to direct. That incarnation never happened, and for a while Taylor Lautner was attached to star, before he was bounced off the project once everyone realized he wasn't going to be able to carry a movie on his shoulders outside of "Twilight." But the history of "Stretch Armstrong" is even stranger... THR has an oral recap of the project (somewhat random, but something tells us Relativity will announce the new lead for "Stretch Armstrong," now due...

Sony has decided that it's better for Denzel Washington to fight bad guys in the fall than the spring.  According to Box Office Mojo, Antoine Fuqua's adaptation of the 1980s series The Equalizer has moved from April 11, 2014 to September 26, 2014.  Washington stars a former covert operations officer who dedicates his life to helping people in trouble.  The film also stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Melissa Leo, Marton Csokas, and Haley Bennett. The move gets The Equalizer away from the family-friendly fare of Rio 2 and Stretch Armstrong (although with absolutely no movement on Stretch Armstrong since Breck Eisner signed on to direct a year ago, I seriously doubt it will make a release that's less than a year away).  Fuqua's movie will now face off against Laika's stop-motion animated The Boxtrolls and Tarsem's thriller Selfless starring Ryan Reynolds.  The Equalizer probably has a better shot here because both Boxtrolls and Selfless...

Thanks to Production Weekly, we have production updates on three upcoming films. First up, Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak is now slated to begin production July 2014 in Toronto, a few months later than the previously reported start date of January. The ghost story from Legendary Pictures currently boasts an impressive cast consisting of Emma Stone, Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch. We also have updates on two 2014 films - Relativity Media's Stretch Armstrong and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. Both movie are expected to commence filming this summer in Montreal. The former, based on the action figure of the same name, has director Breck Eisner (Sahara) attached, and is slated for an April 11th, 2014 release date. The latter, which has the working title Flora's Letter, has a start date of August 6th and will be released November 7th next year. Interstellar currently stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain...

Odd List Simon Brew 25 Apr 2013 - 06:50

Captain America 2, Fast & Furious 7, X-Men, Godzilla, Spider-Man and Transcendence lead our look ahead at the blockbusters of summer 2014...

As blockbuster season is now underway, with the release of Iron Man 3 and Oblivion, it's traditional for us to look ahead to what's coming next summer, and to examine what treats are on the horizon. We've thus sliced out the big films, that we know of now, that are being released between April and August 2014 (Noah, due at the end of March, just misses the cut, as does early March Tom Cruise vehicle, All You Need Is Kill).

And while there's some familiarity to them, there are signs it might just be a more interesting summer than you may think....

April 4th

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Someone at Marvel has been watching the paintball episodes of Community too. That would explain...

Transformers fansite TFW2005.com recently attended the Ubs Best Of Americas 2012 Conference, where Hasbro president Brian Goldner talked about the company's plans for the future – including Transformers 4 and Stretch Armstrong.The key point taken from his otherwise toy-centric speech is that fans can expect brand new robot characters in the next film, if only because sales of the plastic children distracters for the third film were somewhat disappointing."Transformers: Dark Of The Moon did well in box office," says Goldner. "Regarding toy sales... it’s because of same characters in all three movies. This is why Transformers 4 will have a new cast of [robot] characters and it will be a story revolving around these new characters."Another key tidbit Goldner let slip was that Stretch Armstrong will have a movie as well as a TV series in 2014, but it was the chance to speculate about which new robots Transformers...

For the last couple of years Vin Diesel has seemed content with just the Fast and Furious franchise (and maybe a Riddick here or there), but the actor is now gearing up for another major tentpole, which would give him a sole starring role. After being rumored for the gig over a year-and-a-half ago The Crazies director Breck Eisner is looking towards Diesel to star in a new action film.

The Wrap reports that Lionsgate-Summit have entered talks for Diesel to lead The Last Witch Hunter, from a script written by Cory Goodman, which ended up on the 2010 Black List and tells the story of “disparate covens of witches who have joined forces, leaving the protagonist to fight a force much larger than him to ensure the safety of mankind.”

I’m exhausted by the witch, vampire, etc. craze, but Eisner showed great talent in elevating The Crazies from what...

The next blockbuster superhero?

I've reported on a fair few superhero movies since joining the staff, but nothing like this.  I've talked about tiny scientists, Russian villains, and Canadian heroes, but this takes the cake.  Although I didn't grow up in the 70's, I certainly know Stretch Armstrong.  The toy is a cultural icon that in many ways represents the decade it debuted in.  Naturally, it begs to be made into a film.  Relativity Media announced that Breck Eisner is slated to be directing a feature film based on everyone's favorite malleable man.

New photos from Looper, Lawless, Wreck-It Ralph, Pacific Rim, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Beautiful Creatures, End of Watch, Frozen Ground, and The Last Days on Mars.

Posters for Lawless, Life of Pi, Wuthering Heights, The Master, Bachelorette, The Dinosaur Project, The Ambassador, Fun Size, Total Recall, The Last Stand, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, Gangster Squad, Detropia, Lawless, A Common Man, Resident Evil: Retribution, The Oranges, The Impossible, Item 47, General Education, The Possession, and The Expendables 2.

"Producer Ben Smith says that casting begins next week on the new adaptation of Robert Ludlum's 'The Osterman Weekend' from Lionsgate-Summit…" (full details)

"Canadian screenwriter Arne Olsen ("Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie") is to adapt Richard Comely's iconic masked crusader "Captain Canuck" into a live-action feature for Mind's Eye Entertainment…" (full details)

"A scene from Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' has Superman 'breaking apart a...

It's been nearly six months since the live-action Stretch Armstrong jumped ship from Universal to Relativity Media — losing Academy Award–winner Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind) and Imagine Entertainment as producers, Rob Letterman as a director, Nick Stoller as the screenwriter and Twilight star Taylor Lautner as the title character, in the process — but it appears that there's finally going to be some progress on the Hasbro toy adaptation. Relativity Media sent out a press release declaring that a deal has been struck with Breck Eisner (The Crazies) to direct the big screen exploits of the stretchy superhero in what is being described as a "gritty actioner."

Next Showing: Stretch Armstrong is slated to be released on April 11, 2014

Link | Posted 7/21/2012 by BrentJS

Tucker Tooley | Breck Eisner | Dean Georgaris | Stretch Armstrong...

Not long ago we reported that The Crazies director Breck Eisner was in negotiations to direct Relativity Media's big screen adaptation of the toy Stretch Armstrong. The studio has issued a press release saying the deal is done, and Eisner is officially on board to direct it.

I wish the studio the best of luck with this movie because I don't think it's going to do as well as they hope. I've never been a big fan of Stretch, and I don't see there being a big market out there for it. I think Eisner is a talented director, but this isn't the kind of movie I thought he'd end up doing. Here's what he had to say in a statement,

This is a fantastic opportunity to create a world that is both fresh and exhilarating. What really excites me is the chance to build a hero from the ground up.

Earlier this month, we reported that Breck Eisner (The Crazies) was in talks to direct the live-action adaptation of the disposable toy Stretch Armstrong. Today, Relativity Media has sent out a press release confirming that Eisner has the gig. According to the press release, "This original story will be a gritty actioner introducing the character of Lucas Armstrong and the life-or-death consequences he will face after undergoing a transformation granting him superhuman abilities." That's right: someone is going to make a "gritty actioner" based on a toy that's filled with gelled corn syrup. Hit the jump to read the press release. Stretch Armstrong opens April 11, 2014. Here's the press release: Relativity Taps Breck Eisner to Helm Stretch Armstrong Targeted for April 11, 2014 Release (Beverly Hills, Calif.) July 19, 2012 – Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong, it was announced today by Relativity’s President,...

‘The Crazies’ helmer Breck Eisner has signed on to direct the live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong for Relativity Media. The film studio’s President, Tucker Tooley, has announced that Relativity will develop and produce the film, which is set for an April 11, 2014 release, with Hasbro, Inc. Relativity will distribute the movie domestically, and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. Dean Georgaris, who is known for penning ‘Lara Croft Tom Raider: The Cradle of Life’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate,’ will write the Stretch Armstrong film. The adaptation will be produced by Relativity’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh and Hasbro’s CEO, Brian Goldner. The action film [ Read More ]...

1.) Jessica Biel won't be playing Viper in The Wolverine after all. Talks between the actress and 20th Century Fox have broken down over the past few days. And now the studio is already setting their sights on another actress for the role, but it's someone you're probably much less familiar with. The actress is Svetlana Khodchenkova, a 29 year old Russian who's largely unknown in the U.S., unless you happen to recognize her from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. She does seem to fall closer in line with the character than Biel would have, as Viper is presented as an Eastern European in the comics. [Twitch] 2.) Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad spoke on the chances of Marc Webb returning to direct the The Amazing Spider-Man 2 saying, "We'd really like him back, but there are obstacles. He has an obligation to Fox." Apparently Webb still owes Fox a film from his (500) Days of Summer deal.

Breck Eisner has been officially confirmed as director on Relativity Media's Stretch Armstrong. The Crazies helmer has been in talks for the live-action superhero film for a month, and has now put pen to paper on a deal. Stretch Armstrong is being developed in conjunction with toy manufacturer Hasbro, based on a screenplay by Manchurian Candidate scribe Dean Georgaris. "This is a fantastic opportunity to create a world that is both fresh and exhilarating," said Eisner. "What really (more)...

Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong, it was announced today by Relativity’s President, Tucker Tooley. Relativity partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce the film which is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. Eisner, known for directing the remake of George A. Romero’s horror movie The Crazies, will helm the film based on the script written by Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, The Manchurian Candidate). The film will be produced by Relativity’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter),...

It was recently reported that Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) was in talks to direct the upcoming live-action "Stretch Armstrong" movie, based on the Hasbro toy. And now, Relativity Media has confirmed that Eisner has signed the contract and is officially on board. This original story will be a gritty action movie introducing the character of Lucas Armstrong and the life-or-death consequences he will face after undergoing a transformation granting him superhuman abilities. The script is written by Dean Georgaris (Tom Raider: The Cradle of Life, The Manchurian Candidate). "This is a fantastic opportunity to create a world that is both fresh and exhilarating," said Eisner. "What really excites me is the chance to build a hero from the ground up." "Twilight" star Taylor Lautner is rumored to play the lead role. "Stretch Armstrong" is set to hit theaters on April 11th, 2014.

Looks like Relativity hasn’t given up on that “Stretch Armstrong” movie yet. I have no idea why not, though. Is the world really clamoring for a Stretch Armstrong movie? Apparently Relativity seems to think so, since they’ve now officially attached “Crazies” director Breck Eisner to direct. Official press release ahoy: Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong, it was announced today by Relativity’s President, Tucker Tooley. Relativity partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce the film which is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. Eisner, known for directing the remake of George A. Romero’s horror movie The Crazies, will helm the film based on the script written...

“Stretch Armstrong was in the shape of a small well-muscled blonde man wearing a pair of underwear. Its most notable feature was that the doll could be stretched from its original size (about 15 inches) to four or five feet. However, if a tear did develop, it could be fixed with an adhesive bandage…There are still Original Stretch Armstrongs that have survived the passing of time and are remarkably preserved through sheer luck or being stored at the correct temperature…Stretch Armstrong is made of latex rubber filled with gelled corn syrup, which allows it to retain shape for a short time before shrinking to its original shape. The later 1990s figures had small beads inside them.” Of course we need a movie about this man. Of course we need to know more about his life, his origins, his dreams, his wishes. How does Stretch Armstrong feel? What is gelled corn syrup? Do...

“This Stretch is Going to Be One Killer.”

“Stretch… Until Your Hate Is Avenged.”

“Make Them Feel The Pain of Every Stretch.”

Oh, sorry! I was sitting here, on this warm Thursday night, trying to think of some plausible taglines for Breck Eisner‘s Stretch Armstrong. You may recall when, last week, the Crazies director had been tapped by Relativity to give their toy-based project a little bit of fresh juice, a much-needed action after some incarnations (such as Taylor Lautner‘s) fell apart because really.

Stupid, no doubt, but there was a chance, just the smallest, that Armstrong could embrace its own unnecessary nature and be some absurdist comedy about a man capable of stretching his own body to incredible lengths for whatever purpose. (The dirty jokes write themselves.)

Not the case, as a press release says Relativity and Eisner are moving forward with a “gritty actioner.” No, really.

Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong, it was announced today by Relativity’s President, Tucker Tooley. Relativity partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce the film which is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. Eisner, known for directing the remake of George A. Romero’s horror movie The Crazies, will helm the film based on the script written by Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, The Manchurian Candidate). The film will be produced by Relativity’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Hasbro’s CEO Brian Goldner (Transformers) and Bennett Schneir, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Motion Pictures (Battleship). Tooley (Immortals) will serve as executive producer.

Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong, it was announced today by Relativity's President, Tucker Tooley. Relativity partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce the film which is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners.

Eisner, known for directing the remake of George A. Romero's horror movie The Crazies, will helm the film based on the script written by Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life, The Manchurian Candidate). The film will be produced by Relativity's CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Hasbro's CEO Brian Goldner (Transformers) and Bennett Schneir, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Motion Pictures (Battleship). Tooley (Immortals) will serve as executive producer.

"This is...

Update: According to a press release from Relativity, Breck Eisner has won the job and is officially aboard Stretch Armstrong. "This is a fantastic opportunity to create a world that is both fresh and exhilarating,” he says. “What really excites me is the chance to build a hero from the ground up."...Add one more to the list of long-gestating projects that director Breck Eisner is attached to: he’s now in negotiations to take over megaphone chores on Relativity Media’s planned film of Stretch Armstrong.You’ll remember Stretch: originally launched as a toy across the pond in 1976, he caught on quickly thanks to his rubber limbs. Though the film rights featured in the deal between Hasbro and Universal that spawned Battleship, the idea stumbled around development, missing one release date after another.Even the addition of Taylor Lautner didn’t help matters, and Universal shoved it to...

Has Hollywood learned nothing from "Battleship"? Hasbro's "Stretch Armstrong" movie - which previously had "Twilight" actor Taylor Lautner attached to star before the project jumped studios (it was formerly set up at Universal) - is actually moving forward, with "Crazies" director Breck Eisner signing on to helm. What's more, it's been re-envisioned by Eisner and screenwriter Dean Georgaris ("The Manchurian Candidate," "Paycheck") as a "gritty actioner." How they're gonna make that work exactly is anyone's guess. "This is a fantastic opportunity to create a world that is both fresh and exhilarating,” said Eisner (whose previously-announced "Flash Gordon" adaptation appears to be stuck in development hell)...

Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner (The Crazies, Sahara) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong, it was announced today by Relativity.s President, Tucker Tooley. Relativity partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce the film which is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners.

Eisner, known for directing the remake of George A. Romero.s horror movie The Crazies, will helm the film based on the script written by Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, The Manchurian Candidate). The film will be produced by Relativity.s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Hasbro.s CEO Brian Goldner (Transformers) and Bennett Schneir, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Motion Pictures (Battleship). Tooley (Immortals) will serve as executive producer.

[Update: Eisner is Officially Directing Stretch Armstrong. Scroll Down for Details.]

It wouldn’t be a stretch (wink, wink) to say that Stretch Armstrong has been stuck in development hell for years. It’s actually kind of hard to believe now that the film was once one of the hotter projects in Hollywood.

Back when Universal first announced the film (to many groans from the public), it had a tentative release date for April 2011. Things seemed to be rolling along well for the project when Twilight star Taylor Lautner was attached to star, but, like its namesake, the film has turned into a bit of a gooey mess.

In the last six months, Lautner dropped out of the ...

Click to continue reading ‘Crazies’ Director Breck Eisner Confirmed to Direct ‘Stretch Armstrong’ [Updated]...

Breck Eisner will direct "Stretch Armstrong" for Relativity Media, the studio announced on Thursday. Eisner, who directed "Sahara" and a remake of George A. Romero's  "The Crazies," will use a Dean Georgaris script to turn the action figure into a live-action movie.   "This is a fantastic opportunity to create a world that is both fresh and exhilarating," Eisner said in a statement. "What really excites me is the chance to build a hero from the ground up." Relativity picked up the project after Universal, which has a deal with toymaker Hasbro, dropped...

Relativity Media has closed a deal with Breck Eisner ( The Crazies , Sahara ) to direct its upcoming live-action film based on Stretch Armstrong , it was announced today by Relativity.s President, Tucker Tooley. Relativity partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce the film which is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date. Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. Eisner, known for directing the remake of George A. Romero.s horror movie The Crazies , will helm the film based on the script written by Dean Georgaris ( Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life , The Manchurian Candidate ). The film will be produced by Relativity.s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh...

1.) Fox has officially set Chronicle helmer Josh Trank to direct the reboot of Fantastic Four with expectation it will be the next film Trank directs. Fox has additionally set Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) to direct the family sci-fi film Rust based on the Royden Lepp novel about a struggling farm family and the mysterious robot that shows up and changes their lives. The studio is also now looking to fill the director shoes on a reboot of Daredevil now that David Slade has dropped out. The studio needs to get the film into production by fall or contractually risk having the the property revert to Marvel Studios and Disney. [Deadline] 2.)Breck Eisner (The Crazies) is in negotiations to direct Stretch Armstrong, the movie project based on the classic Hasbro toy and set up at Relativity with a script from Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life). The...

Breck Eisner ("Sahara," "The Crazies") is in negotiations to direct the film based on the classic Hasbro toy "Stretch Armstrong" at Relativity says Heat Vision.

The toy, a 13-inch, blond-haired muscled figure whose limbs could be stretched to nearly four feet, was launched by Kenner in the '70s. Dean Georgaris penned the script.

Disney tried to make the film back in 1998 with Danny DeVito and later Jackie Chan. Universal then had a go in 2008 with Taylor Lautner attached, but that project fell through as well. Ryan Kavanaugh, Brian Goldner and Bennett Schnier are producing.

After bouncing from Universal Pictures to Relativity earlier this year, the potential franchise based on the 1976 Hasbro toy Stretch Armstrong moved closer to landing its director. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh and co-producer Brian Goldner as well as Bennett Schneir of Hasbro continued talks with director Breck Eisner, best known as the director of the horror film The Crazies and the action adventure Sahara. Universal originally signed on to make Stretch Armstrong in 2008 and Twilight Saga star Taylor Lautner was quickly attached to play the hero capable of stretching and bending his rubbery body and snapping back into his original shape.

After bouncing from Universal Pictures to Relativity earlier this year, the potential franchise based on the 1976 Hasbro toy Stretch Armstrong moved closer to landing its director. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh and co-producer Brian Goldner as well as Bennett Schneir of Hasbro continued talks with director Breck Eisner, best known as the director of the horror film The Crazies and the action adventure Sahara. Universal originally signed on to make Stretch Armstrong in 2008 and Twilight Saga star Taylor Lautner was quickly attached to play the hero capable of stretching and bending his rubbery body and snapping back into his original shape.

When Universal Pictures cut its deal with Hasbro to make films based on their toys and games, plans for Stretch Armstrong — a film that would’ve seen Taylor Lautner as the pliable action figure — fell through. Many of us thought it safe to assume we wouldn’t be hearing about Stretch for awhile, maybe never again, but it turns out Relativity Media has the rights and THR reports that Breck Eisner is in talks to direct.

Eisner is best known for directing the 2005 adventure film Sahara and one of 2010′s more popular and praised horror flicks, The Crazies. His work on the latter convinced New Line to hire him for a remake of Escape from New York, but there’s been no word on that project for two years now.

Stretch Armstrong debuted in 1976 and saw a resurgence in the ’90s. Relativity has been mum on its development of the...